Ok. I'm doing a house tour, one room at a time. To show you some tricks & tips on decorating while renting &/or on a budget! As you renters know, most places don't allow you to paint on the walls, etc. [or you can, you just have to paint it when you move out]. I find it extremely difficult to not want to paint them! It's so hard to find ways to add color to boring white walls.
Below is the living room as a whole, I will move around the room step by step and give you all of the little knowledge that I have :)
Pillows. That cute green little ruffle pillow in front was my "inspiration"piece. If you're starting from scratch, always find your inspiration. Whether it's curtains, pillows, a chair, table, you name it! That way, you can have some sort of color scheme going on. Speaking of curtains, I don't have any up at the moment, but please ignore that :)
Inspiration piece & furniture. Once you have your "inspiration" piece, it's time to PLAY! My favorite looks happen to come from homemade crafty things. Which are often the cheapest too! So if you're on a budget, do a craft at a time so that you can add to your collection. Most of our furniture is "hand-me-downs" or gifts. Which we were extremely lucky to have. Furniture is not cheap. So if you do need to purchase some items, try craigslist or ask among your family and friends.
Mantle. Another thing I was extremely lucky to get as a gift. My handy grandpa made it for me! This is a great piece to have in a apartment so you can fill it with colorful things! If you don't have one of these, I used some cheap ikea shelves before I had this beaut. Fill these mantles/shelves with things that you love and things that are memorable. This is where most of my "handmade" things are. If you're not crafty, find cheap fun decor at places like Ross, TJ Maxx, or Marshalls... these are a few of my favorites.
Pictures. It's all about what matters most. Fill your space with frames, canvases, any pictures you adore. This is what really makes a home, and can add so much character to your apartment/home.
Entertainment area. I found an old dresser on craigslist and spruced it up with a fresh coat of paint. I love using it as our entertainment center. There's plenty of storage for remotes, dvds, and blankets. It's so roomy! And also very baby-proof!
Clock. I love big clocks. You don't have to spend hundreds on them either! This takes up plenty of wall space, and adds some cute personality to the room.
Homemade Touches. As I mentioned before, I LOVE homemade things. Make some pinwheels or paper flowers to add color and texture to your room.
Most importantly. Have FUN while decorating! It's something that I definately love to do, so make sure you pick things that are fun and close to your heart.
Where'd you get that?
a list of where things were purchased in my home.
Green Ruffle Pillows - Tuesday Morning
Other pillows - Handmade by yours truly
Rug - Urban Outfitters Online
"LOVE" Frame & Letters - Michaels [mod podged paper on them]
Clock - Home Goods
Dresser - "Gentle Rain"
Milk Glass Vase - Goodwill
Key on mantle - Hobby Lobby
Blue vase on mantle - Hobby Lobby
Questions about anything else? Please feel free to ask in the comment section :)
